From the Madonna/Young column - http://www.fandm.edu/x18781.xml

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"But Bonus Gate markedly differs from past corruption in Pennsylvania. Corrupt politicians throughout state history have found many ways to steal and have stolen for many reasons. But historically personal enrichment and financial gain were common motivations for corrupt behavior. Since vigorous parties and abundant patronage provided the campaign resources necessary to run campaigns, crooked politicians of earlier eras were free to steal for themselves, and many did.

And the accused Bonus Gate malefactors are different too. Boiled down to its elements, they are accused of creating within state government a campaign organization that performed very similar campaign functions to those that parties and patronage performed in the past.

(To highlight BD's point)

This Thursday, join nurses, doctors, patients and Americans of every stripe protesting in memory of the countless victims of the insurance industry. Protests are being held around the country on a day when 38,000 health insurance lobbyists are having their annual convention in San Francisco.

Healthcare Yes! Health Insurance No!

Guaranteed, Universal, Single-Payer Healthcare Now!

Hands Off Our Healthcare!

RALLY - PHILADELPHIA
Two Liberty Place at 16th and Chestnut
THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 12:00 noon

Our Healthcare System is Not Working! Over 47 million are uninsured; millions more inadequately covered. Yet, the U.S. health system spends a higher portion of its gross domestic product than any other country but ranks 37 out of 191 countries in its performance, according to the World Health Organization.

Here you go, folks...

Two movements for the price of one!

Takes a Canadian magazine to see it.

Or, as someone put it in the Daily News: They're like yin and yang.

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So...tomorrow...you should know that John McCain will be speaking at the Constitution Center in our hometown.

Now this is interesting. I'm not quite sure why John McCain would start caring all of a sudden about the U.S. Constitution. He sure didn't have a problem with the contempt with which the Bush administration has treated our nation's founding document for the last 8 years. Does anyone remember this supposed 'independent' having anything feisty to say then? Eight years went by - and this man didn't bother about the separation of church and state... the fact that war powers reside with Congress...and habeas what?

This can lead me to only a few conclusions:
Either

We just like it because they called out Philly for Change!

http://theporkreport.wordpress.com

Administrative note:
1. Dan....you got to add the new funny blogs to the blogroll. Phillyisfunny etc. We need the comic relief.
2. Are you going to stop being mad at me and put me into the feed now?

Thank you!
And yes we will!

Hannah

What the hell is "half a delegate"?

And who is that half a delegate?

And how did they get carved up?

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Hannah

Hello everyone. Although I am on this blog casually often as a Philadelphian and observer of local politics, I want to write today about Anne’s campaign from a professional perspective. I am a good friend of Anne who runs campaigns for a living; I am currently running a Congressional campaign, and I'm advising Anne on her crucial last week. Anne's campaign has been going through a staff transition for the last two days, so they have been quiet on the blogs. I am happy to write, though, that in just a few days, Anne Dicker for State Senate has come back together with a surge of new energy, drive, and commitment to finish what we started in 2006 - to come back, get this done, and this time, beat not one but both South Philly political machines.

To the Editorial Board of the Inquirer:

I write today to express how disappointed, bewildered, and simply sad I am to read your editorial endorsing lawyer Larry Farnese for Senator from the First District over one of the most important and influential leaders to emerge in Philadelphia in 20 years, Anne Dicker.

I hardly even know where to start with this. It's almost too mind-boggling to understand...according to your argument, you want to stop John Doc (for some very good reasons), and the person who is supposed to do this is the candidate in third place, Larry Farnese, whose candidacy apparently has momentum, despite having actually sunk in the polls despite being up on TV for three weeks, spending thousands of dollars on mail and television ads. Dicker has remained in second the entire time.

Wow, I just found this.

It's a Facebook page.
It has 43,425 members.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2233338482

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In the good news department - Happy Opening Day everybody!

With regard to prior post about a happy hour at Devil's Alley, I have to cancel as the OPENING of the phone bank party is scheduled for the same time a few blocks away – as well as the Phillary for Hillary party at the Delaware Avenue office.

It's a nice problem to have!

Here are the events:

Phonebanking for Hillary at the AFT Office

Phonebank Kick Off! WEDNESDAY, March 19, 5pm
AFT Union Hall, 1816 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia
We will be phonebanking at the AFT (American Federation of Teachers) union hall, located at 1816 Chestnut St. Bring your favorite friend and make some phone calls to undecided voters! We will also be holding phone banks here from 5:00-9:00pm, Monday through Friday. Let us know when you can make it and how many people will be coming with you! You should call Arthur Lewis at 864-404-1886 or email him at arthurlewi@gmail.com.

Philly 4 Hillary
Wednesday, March 19th, 7:00 - 9:00 pm

http://hrclinton.meetup.com/113/

Annoucing a Phillary for President Meetup

A place to come and hear about Hillary Clinton's historic campaign for the Presidency...meet other Hillary supporters....find out how to get plugged into this very exciting campaign...and have fun!

Next Wednesday, March 19
6-8 p.m. at Devil's Alley Bar and Grille
Devil's Alley bar/grill
1907 Chestnut
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-751-0707

Join and RSVP here: http://hrclinton.meetup.com/113/
Yes of course there will be drink specials...
After all we do only have 6 weeks to win Pennsylvania for the woman who would stop the war, revitalize our economy, restore our faith in government, and return government to its original intent of public service. Probably would also figure out what to do with all our debt too. And also would probably know how to deal with those pesky insurance companies. And all sorts of other stuff. Go check out what she's done in the Senate: http://clinton.senate.gov/

There’s a part of Hillary Clinton’s autobiography, “Living History,” where she writes about moving into the White House in 1993, and how Bill and her set up their respective banks of offices.

As she describes them, the offices of the President get arranged much as you might imagine them, or at least as you have seen them on TV: a series of glass-walled, closed-door rooms, with, she writes, “staffers jockeying over who gets the office closest to the President.”

Dear Philadelphians and friends,

For five years now, in our name, the part of the world that we call "the cradle of civilization" has been mercilessly strafed and bombed by our military. The horrible war in Iraq has become a military and humanitarian disaster on nearly all levels: for the people of Iraq, for under-equipped American troops, for the fiscal health of our government for generations to come, and for our own safety as a nation.

During that time, Senator Hillary Clinton has used her position on the Armed Services Committee to begin reversing the terrible course we have taken. She has written a raft of legislation in repeated efforts to bring our troops home, stop the out-of-control no-bid contracts to defense corporations, reform the shameful way our government treats servicemen and women, and most of all, end this terrible war and begin to heal the nation of Iraq.

If elected President, Clinton would sign orders to begin bringing the troops home within 60 days.

When the inauguration schedule was rolled out last week, I was very pleased to see that the transition team had come up with this loud fun noisy open light-filled extravaganza. It looks great!

Most especially though - since I am still chair of Pirates for Nutter - I should note that I was very happy to see the inaugural party Monday night scheduled to be held at the Navy Yard.

The Navy Yard!

First...to back up and explain.
'Pirates for Nutter' was actually a real Meetup group I started last year that was supposed to meet one Friday a month at the New Wave Cafe at 3rd and Catherine in Queen Village. It was going to be my contribution to the Nutter campaign while I worked on council races, and also an excuse to buy a pirate hat and a bunch of other stupid pirate schwag and drink beer.

It never quite worked - I got busy with other campaigns, and had to cancel meetings.

Prime Minister Bhutto, rest in peace.

Sometimes I think that we have poisoned our world with so much war that there is simply no road back. We are overrun with war, all over the globe. The plague of our age is violence, more violence than humankind has ever seen. We have grown accustomed to shootings at schools, at malls. We casually accept the invasion of other countries, of torture committed in our name. As John Steinbeck wrote in 'The Sea of Cortez,' sailing past the vast gray military installations carved out of the stunning California coast, we have already made all the machines - our species is now simply waiting to die.

All of this must be inverted. All of this must be turned over completely. We simply must replace all this death with life, or everything beautiful that human beings have created will vanish from the earth.

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However...I originally intended to write good news today!

www.haferforcongress.com

Beth Hafer, daughter of former state treasurer Barbara, is running for Congress in PA’s 18th District, in the Pittsburgh suburbs. (I've put her full bio below). Tim Murphy currently occupies the seat, and he is well-known for recent ethical violations and his poor personnel management. Beth will bring a much needed change to this district!

When elected, Beth will not only help us strengthen our Democratic representation in Congress and build upon our success in 2006, but she will also be the second woman elected to Congress in PA with Allyson Schwartz.

Can you spare $50 to help elect a progressive voice for PA? How about $50? Or $100 or $250? Contributions can be made by credit card via her website www.haferforcongress.com or by check made payable to “Hafer for Congress.com.”

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Invite below:
Stewart Cohen Walt D’Alessio Stuart Davidson Bonnie DiCarlo